Tease: A Stepbrother Romance by Veronica Daye Read Free Book Online

settling for her. She also said I was only asking to marry her because of you.”
    “Was she right?” I asked.
    He picked up his glass and took another sip as he leaned back in the chair. Tilting his head to the side, he raised his shoulders in the slightest shrug and gave me a half smile I knew I used all the time.
    “Probably. Your mother is usually right and as far as you’re concerned, she’s always right. Remember that.” He grinned and took another sip before setting his glass back down on the table. “I did love her, but when I first asked her to marry me, it was because I thought it was the right thing to do because she was pregnant. We were in college at the time and had been dating for most of the year. I was in my senior year and she was a freshman. I didn’t realize I skipped an intro class that was required for graduation. Your mom was in the class and after winning her over, we started dating.”
    “Hmm, I never knew how you met.”
    “She’d probably rather forget meeting me,” he said with a laugh. “After she got pregnant, I wanted to support her and take care of her, but she refused. She had to do everything on her own and her own way, so she quit college and that’s when she went to beauty school. I guess it was for the best, at least for me, because I was able to go to graduate school and make a name for myself, but I never thought it was fair to her.”
    “I know you tried helping us out. And I know you didn’t want us to move away, but it probably was better for Mom that we did. Mom didn’t have to work as much in Tucson as she did out here.”
    He nodded sadly. “I wish I could have done more. For a long time I thought maybe we’d end up together, but maybe that’s the real reason your mom moved away. She was always very perceptive. Even though your mom ended our relationship when she got pregnant, I didn’t even think of dating until she said the two of you were leaving. I think that’s when it really hit home that the three of us would never be a family in the traditional sense.”
    “I hated having to move,” I said. “California will always be my home, but I did make some really great friends in Tucson. I changed a lot.”
    Dad took a sip of his Scotch and smiled. “You did, Jag, and I’m really proud of the man you’ve become. I only wish you were closer so we could have spent more time together.”
    “It’s okay. You came to visit a lot. Even Mom said sometimes it was like we never moved. Plus I saw how happy you were with Rachel. I was glad you found someone. I wish Mom would too.”
    “When Rachel and I started dating, I finally understood what falling in love was really like. She means the world to me, and I hope that one day your mother finds that happiness, too. When it comes to love, it pays to be patient.”
    “How do you know when you’re in love?”
    Dad shook his head. “You just know.”
    Music seeped in from outside. Dad got up and looked at the small band that had set up next to the wedding canopy.
    “It’s almost time,” he said. “Can you do me a favor before we go out there?”
    “Sure, Dad, what is it?”
    “Can you check on Rachel for me? You know it’s bad luck to see the bride, and I just want to make sure she doesn’t need anything.”
    “No problem,” I said as I stood.
    Dad walked over to me, hugged me, and then patted my back. I left the room and went down the hall to the bride’s room. Anxious voices came through the door before I knocked.
    A woman with blonde hair and a flower in her hair opened the door a crack.  
    “You alone?” she asked as her eyes darted back and forth.
    I nodded, and she opened the door for me to enter. Rachel was pacing in a pale pink gown as she wrung her hands together. When she saw me, she rushed over.
    “You have to find Sierra,” she said. “She was here and said she forgot something in the room, but she hasn’t come back yet. It’s been half an hour already and the ceremony is supposed to